http://www.drawger.com/paillot/ Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:07:26 EST FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://drawger.com/_images/drawger_leo_logo.gif http://www.drawger.com/paillot http://www.drawger.com/paillot/index.php?section=articles&article_id=9563

It all started with this little guy. A cute little chick I did for PETA a few years back. Back then he was adorable. Pastel colors and a tender heart.  I liked him so much I jazzed him up and made him a bit player (a talent manager) in another book I am working on. Now I added a cigar (chickens grow up so fast) and a few knucklehead friends and he is ready to roll again. He and his young cohorts are now up to mischief. The guitar guy is a distant cousin to J.D. King. Fun to play with in between paying gigs.



]]> Tue, 12 Jan 2010 07:07:26 EST http://www.drawger.com/paillot/index.php?section=articles&article_id=9240


]]> Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:30:56 EST http://www.drawger.com/paillot/index.php?section=articles&article_id=8953

In the last gasps of summer we found that a large swarm of bees had made a home in our backyard. We called the "bee guy". His job was to safely relocate the queen, drones and all of their waxy build-up to his bee ranch. They would be much happier there since he has horses to ride and lots of room to run. Anyway, it all went well and the bees even presented us with a lovely parting gift - honey! Here's the thing. Bee guy use NO protection. No gloves, net hat, mask or anything. He's in his 70's and made of iron and aged leather. He looks like Willy Nelson's older, tougher brother. Like all people with such an original, unique way about them he was fascinating to visit with. It was especially odd to talk with him afterwards while he was picking live bees out of his hair and beard!! I was so impressed and intimidated that I made my son punch me in the stomach while he watched.

]]> Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:54:05 EST http://www.drawger.com/paillot/index.php?section=articles&article_id=8703

"The Year That It Rained Cows" is book two of the Grubtown Tales series that seems to be picking up steam. The first book, "Stinking Rich and Just Plain Stinky" has been short listed for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2009. The category it has been selected for is The Funniest Book for Children Aged 7-14. Cool! In book two, the inhabitants of Grubtown are startled by cows falling from nowhere. But they must be coming from somewhere! Jilly, Mango and Chief of Police Grabby Hanson try to get to the bottom of this mystery before more luckless Grubtownies are squashed under falling bovine.



When the first cow falls on Limbo Goulash, Police Chief Grabby Hanson and Constable Gelatine - emerging from The Rusty Dolphin tavern - snap into action.



"... and there, sticking up from the roof of his beloved Music Shack was... a cow"



Grubtownies watching the skies.

]]> Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:30:52 EST http://www.drawger.com/paillot/index.php?section=articles&article_id=8249

Too... cute... must... look... away... my... powers... are... growing... weaker... Jeff Dinardo is the king of cute. And I mean that in a flannel-shirt-wearing, punch-in-the-arm, guy to another guy kind of way. He has developed a game and line of products that is so adorable and friendly that my superhero level of sarcasm and pessimism has been diminished to a pitiful whimper. My small part in his cuteness empire was to come up with the look of Giggleville. Ground zero for all things that are good. So I did the gameboard and packaging. He did the groovy little characters. My task was simple- start at "cute" and dial it up to "cutezilla". I returned to the traditional techniques of the masters and used candy colors and injected insanely cuddly characters wherever I could. On a project like this you have to just embrace the fun and ride with it. It became a guilty pleasure.



Here's the game. And here's a shot of the game getting all ready to ship.





]]> Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:39:31 EST http://www.drawger.com/paillot/index.php?section=articles&article_id=8062

"Manual Org's hair was so greasy that it was more grease than it was hair...". After reading that description of one of the main characters I knew I wanted to illustrate this book. "Stinking Rich and Just Plain Stinky" is book one of the new series - Grubtown Tales - from Faber and Faber. The repulsive Mr. Org is one of a few dozen oddballs that live in Grubtown. I love the two main characters: Jilly, the town duck gatherer and her pint sized buddy, Mango. In book one, getting the repulsive Mr. Org to either leave town or clean up his act is top priority. Until the discovery of a humongous diamond changes everything. This job was especially exciting because I was able to do the interior illustrations in pencil. Good old pencil. Not computer. No digital magic here. I thank the nice people at Faber and Faber for giving me that creative freedom. It meant a lot to me. We have completed three books (the next two will be out soon) and are noodling around with the next couple.



Here is the cover artwork and a few interior pieces.



While queuing up to view the village idiot, Formal Dripping, the repulsive Mr. Org lets out a noxious, nasty burp.



Jilly, the official town duck gatherer, gets some help from her friend, Mango.



Mango and Jilly find a gargantuan diamond. And Mr. Org finds them!

]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2009 05:53:46 EST